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>5.1. The <B
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>MAKEDEV</B
> Script</A
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><P
>Most device files will already be created and will be there
	ready to use after you install your Linux system.  If by some chance
	you need to create one which is not provided then you should first
	try to use the <B
CLASS="COMMAND"
>MAKEDEV</B
> script.  This script is
	usually located in <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>/dev/MAKEDEV</TT
> but might also
	have a copy (or a symbolic link) in
	<TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>/sbin/MAKEDEV</TT
>.  If it turns out not to be in
	your path then you will need to specify the path to it
	explicitly.</P
><P
>In general the command is used as:
	
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>	<TT
CLASS="PROMPT"
>#</TT
> <TT
CLASS="USERINPUT"
><B
>/dev/MAKEDEV -v ttyS0</B
></TT
>
	<TT
CLASS="COMPUTEROUTPUT"
>create ttyS0   c 4 64 root:dialout 0660</TT
>
	</PRE
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>

	This will create the device file <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>/dev/ttyS0</TT
>
	with major node 4 and minor node 64 as a character device with
	access permissions 0660 with owner root and group dialout.</P
><P
><TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>ttyS0</TT
> is a serial port.  The major and
	minor node numbers are numbers understood by the kernel.  The kernel
	refers to hardware devices as numbers, this would be very difficult
	for us to remember, so we use filenames.  Access permissions of 0660
	means read and write permission for the owner (root in this case)
	and read and write permission for members of the group (dialout in 
	this case) with no access for anyone else.</P
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>The <B
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>mknod</B
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